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Centrism is the best way to go because that’s the sweet spot of the electorate. Chris Christie or Marco Rubio best fill this requirement. Rick Santorum and Paul Ryan, as skilled as they are politically, wouldn’t take the party where it needs to go in the next couple years. Santorum, as skilled as he is politically and consistent in his beliefs, he’s too controversial - his social views are out of touch with a 21st century society. Ryan, as bright and talented as he is, is still green. He needs some more seasoning.

Conservatives must be patient. The GOP doesn't a de facto in the next 24 hours. It's only been a couple weeks since the election, and we have four years until President Obama's term ends. The top priorities for the "Big Tent" now are to put the "Fiscal Cliff" problem to bed, and reorganize the party to appeal to broad national interests.

One thing the party must not do is move further to the right. Some believe that the next presidential candidate should be ideologically pure, not a RINO (Republican in name only). Mitt Romney's campaign failed not because he was a moderate, but because he didn't run a successful campaign. He put too much emphasis on fundraising and too little on building a strong get-out-the-vote infrastructure. He didn’t have a consistent narrative. He tried to please whatever audience he was speaking to at any given time.

Whoever the next Republican leader, that person must understand that a majority of voters are middle of the road. Most are probably fiscally conservative, and socially-moderate, and they want bipartisanship. If elephants can find someone like that, they'll be in a great position to win the White House in 2016.

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